Sunday, August 16, 2015

Snakes, Strains and Silver Linings

What a whirlwind of a month! I have barely had time to catch my breath and my resolution of writing more often has been scattered to the winds! Perhaps this is the peak of the chaos and things will settle down! Perhaps...

It began with strained nerves of all kinds. My old maid, whose work seemed to be deteriorating as days went by, began resenting my continuous harping. I tried to redivide the work so she would do less (hopefully better!) but this didn't work and she just announced suddenly that if I wasn't satisfied with her work, I should find someone else more suited to my requirements. Well, when things reach this stage, it's hard to turn back or pretend that one hasn't heard. Somewhat reluctantly I set out firing her. I felt a little guilty as she had been working here for six years and things are not easy for maids. There is also the gnawing doubt about whether they have changed or you, and how reasonable or unreasonable each one has been, and so on. But things took their course and a new silent and efficient maid took her place.

The old maid was bubbly and cheerful and I thought we would all miss that. But I find, at the end of a few weeks that a new kind of peace has taken the place of all the sound and that I am greatly relieved as my house is cleaned first thing in the morning and I have the rest of the time to myself. At the moment, a kind of spring cleaning is going on, with masses of dust being cleared, and it feels good, both physically and mentally.

Soon after this episode, my husband had to travel and the day he left, I began on a toothache. This grew progressively worse and I eventually couldn't chew without distress. Quite by chance (and not for the first time) I had been reading a thriller at the time- 'Nerve' by Dick Francis. This helped pull me through a painful week, by realizing that I was not being trampled upon by racing horses or being hounded by fiends or maniacs, and that I would survive the pain! Once my husband returned to babysit, I visited the dentist who grimly said, "There's nothing there but pus. The nerve is completely infected. A root canal is required".

The procedure itself was all right but once the anaesthesia wore off, the pain almost knocked me out. Not being able to take any strong medicine at this time, I lived on crocin, which cut down the pain by a mere fraction. I called the doctor to tell him I was in a bit of pain and he said, "It's not going to be 'a bit of pain', but 'intense pain' for some time". Strangely enough, once I knew that, I was able to handle it. No real silver lining to this story, only a zirconium one! But this tooth has been troubling me for many months now and I was glad that the infection did not erupt while I was away in England. I go back tomorrow for my final sitting and hope that it's all done.

After this, it was time to deal with the new milkman who was supposed to deliver organic milk. One morning he just didn't show up and after calling, he appeared one hour later. "Madam, I came this morning but I saw a snake here. A very big one near your house. So I got scared and ran away." "Big snakes are good", I told him. "It must have been a rat snake, not a cobra or anything venomous." "Beside," I added, reassuringly, "No one has been bitten here in the last twenty years or so." Then I crossed my fingers and hoped he would be back the next day. And he was!

So, all in all, I can say that I and my house are now in better order and ticking along more efficiently than a month ago (I hope)!

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My Blog And I

My early education was at Happy Hours, Gyan Bharati School and St. Stephen's College at Delhi. I trained as a scientist from the department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and the department of Cell Biology (Yale University) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (Bangalore). Subsequently I did a two year stint at the Government Ayurvedic College (Bangalore). I currently study and teach Yoga and am a freelance writer in India.
This blog is about things that fill my mind and life - stray thoughts, nature, travel, food, alternative and traditional healing, science, poetry, performing arts and other engaging stuff.